Boats and watercraft

When roads flood, bridge approaches become impassable, or a community sits on a river delta or island, water becomes the route. During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, an estimated 10,000 civilian boat owners joined the "Cajun Navy" to rescue more than 10,000 people from flooded Houston neighborhoods — operating in conditions where every wheeled vehicle was useless. Watercraft are not a universal mobility tool, but in specific scenarios — floods, coastal areas, river corridors — they are the only tool.

When water mobility becomes the route

Water travel is relevant in four scenarios:

  1. Flood evacuation: Roads are submerged and water depth is sufficient to paddle or motor through
  2. Coastal and island access: Your community is separated from the mainland by water under normal conditions
  3. River corridor movement: A river provides a faster or safer route than degraded roads
  4. Resupply across water: A crossing separates your location from needed supplies

Water routes fail in their own ways: high current, debris, submerged obstacles, and limited visibility make flood water more dangerous than it looks. Watercraft are not backup roads — they require different skills, different navigation, and specific safety equipment.

Watercraft types by scenario

Kayak

A solo or tandem kayak is the most portable and storable paddled option. A standard recreational kayak weighs 35–65 pounds (16–30 kg) and can be transported on a roof rack. Weight capacity is typically 250–350 pounds (113–159 kg) for recreational kayaks — enough for a single paddler with a full bag.

Kayaks are maneuverable in narrow channels and resistant to swamping in calm water. In moving flood water with debris, a kayak's low profile and stability make it manageable for a skilled paddler. Limitation: minimal cargo space and no practical option for carrying a second adult as a passenger.

Canoe

An open canoe weighs 45–80 pounds (20–36 kg) for aluminum or composite versions and carries 600–900 pounds (272–408 kg) — enough for two adults, two children, and meaningful gear. Canoes are the most versatile family evacuation watercraft because of this load margin.

The downside is wind sensitivity: an open canoe broadside to a headwind loses significant maneuverability. In heavy chop or fast current, canoe stability demands experienced paddlers.

Inflatable boats

Inflatable kayaks and rafts compress to storage sizes that fit a car trunk or large pack. Quality inflatable kayaks weigh 20–40 pounds (9–18 kg) deflated and carry 300–500 pounds (136–227 kg). An inflatable canoe rated for family use can carry 600–800 pounds (272–363 kg).

Storage advantages are significant — an inflatable boat can live in a garage corner and deploy in 10 minutes. Durability tradeoffs are real: PVC inflatables puncture on sharp debris, and most are not suited for fast-moving water. For calm flood water or lakes, they are effective.

Jon boat (small aluminum motorized)

A 12–16 foot (3.7–4.9 m) aluminum jon boat powered by a small outboard motor is the workhorse of flood rescue. Stable, simple, easy to repair, and capable of carrying 4–6 people or equivalent gear. The motor adds fuel dependency — in a prolonged emergency, fuel availability becomes the constraint.

Field note

A jon boat with a motor and paddles is the most capable combination: you move quickly when fuel is available, and you can paddle when it isn't. A 3–4 horsepower (2.2–3 kW) motor is sufficient for shallow flood water and burns far less fuel than a larger engine. Buy the smallest motor that meets your mission requirements.

All recreational vessels must carry one US Coast Guard-approved wearable PFD (personal flotation device) for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet (4.9 m) and longer must also carry one throwable Type IV device. A visual distress signal (flare) is required on coastal and open-water vessels.

Registration requirements vary by state. Most powered vessels, and unpowered vessels over a certain length, require state registration. Paperwork matters: during an emergency, law enforcement still operates on the water. Keep registration documentation waterproof and accessible.

Flood water is not calm water

Moving flood water carries submerged hazards — road signs, fences, debris, and power lines — that are invisible from the surface. Foot-deep flood water over a road is deceptively fast; it can knock down an adult. In any boat on flood water, keep speed low, wear your PFD, and assign one person to watch for hazards ahead. Cold water immersion shock is a real danger even in summer when water temperature lags air temperature.

Paddle vs. motor: the fuel dependency trade-off

A motorized boat covers more ground faster but introduces fuel dependency. In a prolonged emergency, fuel supply chains fail. A paddled boat is self-sufficient indefinitely as long as you have the physical capacity and the conditions are manageable.

Plan by scenario:

  • If the movement is a single evacuation event, a motor makes sense
  • If the watercraft is part of a longer resupply or patrol role, ensure enough fuel for the full round-trip plus a reserve margin
  • If fuel availability is uncertain, prioritize a paddled option or carry a paddle backup for a motorized boat

See fuel storage for how to pre-position adequate reserves for motorized watercraft.

Storage, maintenance, and readiness

A kayak or canoe stored in a garage requires almost no maintenance: rinse after salt water use, inspect hull and hull seams annually, check paddle shaft and blade for cracks. UV exposure degrades plastic hulls over years — store under cover.

An inflatable boat requires more attention: inspect seams and valves before every use. A missed slow leak becomes critical on the water. Carry a repair kit (PVC patches and appropriate cement) and know how to use it.

A motorized boat requires the full outboard engine maintenance regimen: fresh fuel (or treated stored fuel), oil check, impeller inspection, and annual flushing. An engine that sat all winter with old fuel may not start. Run it under load at least twice a year.

Pre-planned launch and landing points

Identify launch points before you need them. During a flood, your normal boat ramp may be submerged, buried in debris, or inaccessible. Pre-identify:

  • Primary launch point with vehicle access
  • Alternate launch point if the primary is blocked
  • Mid-route landing points for rest or gear transfer
  • Destination landing point and approach

For navigation on water, the same principles apply as on land — navigation covers map reading and dead reckoning that applies to water routes without relying on digital charts.

Practical checklist

  • Select a craft type matched to your scenario: kayak for solo, canoe or inflatable for family, jon boat for high-load or motorized needs
  • Verify USCG-approved PFDs are present and properly sized for every person who will use the boat
  • Register the vessel per your state's requirements and keep documentation waterproofed
  • Identify primary and alternate launch points for your most likely scenario
  • Test your boat fully loaded under realistic conditions before you depend on it
  • For motorized boats: carry full fuel plus 25% reserve; run the engine at least twice yearly
  • Keep a paddle as a backup on any motorized vessel
  • Carry a repair kit appropriate for your hull material
  • Pre-plan water routes and mark launch and extraction points on a printed map

For the full evacuation decision framework, including when to leave and how to coordinate departure, see evacuation planning. For route-finding when landmarks are submerged, see navigation.